"We’re going to be a multiracial country, and we’re going to have to figure out how to live together, and how to share power in a collective manner. That’s the reality," says Missouri Rev. Traci Blackmon.

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There are some things that cross all sacred texts: caring for the vulnerable, love of neighbor as love of self. At a time when those basic principles are under assault, all faiths must come together.

The Rev. Traci Blackmon is senior pastor of Christ the King Church in Florissant, Mo., and executive minister of justice and witness ministries for the United Church of Christ. Her organizing work in nearby Ferguson after the killing of Michael Brown made Blackmon a leading voice on racial justice. She led an interfaith service in Charlottesville, Va., just before the August 12 white nationalist rally. In These Times spoke with her in August, soon after.

Did you expect violence in Charlottesville?

The flyers that promoted the event talked about weapons and being armed. But we knew as people of faith, we had a responsibility to hold our moral center and not return that violence. So we were in church to prepare ourselves spiritually in that regard. [During the service] we received a notification that we would not be able to leave right away because this mass was coming our way with lit torches, chanting messages from Hitler’s regime. They were chanting, “Jews will not replace us” and “White lives matter.” We were ushered out of back doors and side doors into cars. I had to drive through them.

Why do you participate in interfaith services?

There are some things that cross all sacred texts: caring for the vulnerable, love of neighbor as love of self. At a time when those basic principles are under assault, all faiths must come together, not in uniformity, but in unity around what we all hold sacred. Though Christianity is the dominant religion here—and I am Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior—I also must accept the fact that there are people who have other ways of worshipping God. I will protect their right to do so, just as I want my right protected.

That’s especially powerful when you think about how the same people who say the Left is waging a war on Christmas are those trying to strip Muslims’ right to practice their faith.

I find that most ironic. I am comfortable with [interfaith services] because I am secure in my faith.

Right-wing preachers are angry that Jesus is being characterized by progressive Christians as a social justice fighter. What would you say to them?

An Afrocentric Palestinian who was born on the wrong side of the tracks challenging the empire of his day and challenging the religious voices of his day … I don’t see how you serve that Jesus and [think] the gospel [is not] social. It deals with the ills of society. The scriptures tell us to care for the least of these. So I can only assume that we, even clergy, have in some cases become so comfortable in our privilege and our narratives that mingle the gospel with messages of nationalism, messages of capitalism and messages of white supremacy.

Why did your congregation at Christ the King United Church feel compelled to step up and fight the attempt to repeal Obamacare?

There’s a moral mandate that supersedes legality. We should care for the sick, shelter the stranger, feed the hungry. If we have policies that are contrary to that, that are morally bankrupt, people of faith are compelled to speak out on behalf of those who cannot speak out for themselves. I was also vocal against deportation policies under President Obama.

Are you afraid of the rise of white supremacy?

No. I see it as the death rattle of white supremacy—not the death rattle of white people, but the death rattle of white power. We're going to be a multiracial country, and we're going to have to figure out how live together, and how to share power in a collective manner. That’s the reality.

You are still conflating opinion with fact and failing at the most basic rule of discourse. If you make a claim, it is incumbent upon you to back it up, not upon anyone else to prove you wrong. I am not going to allow you to insult or wiggle your way out of it, although you're welcome to continue trying. Back up your statement with fact. Until you are able to do so, it will remain no more than unsupported opinion.

Posted by Intrepid Steel on 2017-09-15 20:14:43

In other words, you denied the obvious and quickly ran away from your un-intellectual jab. Now, tell why you deny the obvious.

I won't play your game and keep coming up with all the scientific treatises on "why the sky is blue" that you would cough up. It's clear it is an evasion tactic.

Posted by Richard Rahl on 2017-09-15 19:37:30

Opinions are not facts. You have presented nothing except reiteration of your opinion as fact with no credible citations to back your claim. Repetition does not make your opinion more true. Still waiting on a credible fact to back your opinion.

Posted by Intrepid Steel on 2017-09-15 16:31:12

You are lying. I present the facts and you dodge.

"Don't mistake asking for evidence as surprise."

No, I am well aware it is a disingenuous attempt at a debate tactic when someone has been completely schooled.

And you won in your attempt to divert it form the actual subject to your deception.

Go to the head of your 7th grade class.

Posted by Richard Rahl on 2017-09-15 16:09:49

It's not the obvious. If you can't back your opinion with a single credible fact, it is you who comes across as ignorant. Is ignorance about race surprising? Not at all. Don't mistake asking for evidence as surprise.

Posted by Intrepid Steel on 2017-09-15 16:05:20

No, when someone states the obvious and the ignorant person is surprised by it, it is up to the ignorant person to go learn.

I'm not going to post Scientific American articles every time I say the sun comes up in the

Posted by Richard Rahl on 2017-09-15 15:05:13

You made the claim. It's your responsibility to offer the citation for it.

Posted by Intrepid Steel on 2017-09-15 14:58:24

I await your citation.

Posted by Richard Rahl on 2017-09-15 12:25:59

[Citation needed]

Posted by Intrepid Steel on 2017-09-13 18:54:34

Explain your statement that the Anti-Fa are more dangerous than KKK types. Give the logic and examples to support your argument.

Posted by Sillyputta on 2017-09-09 12:18:20

I don't feel threatened or diminished by that notion at all. I think that all people who identify themselves as Christians in particular, who feel threatened by a multicultural population of whatever country is their home. are living in mass hypocrisy if they cannot acknowledge that if there is a divine deity who created everything in the universe, (God), that God did not do so in order that people could become ethnocentric, tribalistic bigots. God would not have created people of varying ethnicities so that they could look around for other people to abuse or feel superior too. Tribalism is a man made concept. At best, I suppose it could give members of some subculture a sense of pride in who/what they are. At worst, it can be a source of great divisiveness, hatred, cultural bias, and an unwillingness to tolerate anyone "different". Tribalism is an archaic social ill that does great harm and little good.

Posted by steviegirl on 2017-09-08 15:58:03

I hope she also preached against Anti-Fa. which is far more dangerous than silly KKK types.